Speaking out can be tough. Any of the women in the recent Larry Nassar court case who shared their stories of abuse and humiliation before a global audience will no doubt attest to that. However, with movements such as #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and the growing voice of trans men and women, solidarity shown by speaking out has become an increasingly important driver of political activism and personal empowerment.

As we celebrate the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, which brought limited suffrage to women, it is important to consider who has a voice in our society, and how they can be heard. Would the recent outpourings of opprobrium against sexual harassment have gained such momentum without the glamorous sheen of Hollywood? As the pendulum swings and discourses shift, these huge and complex questions will no doubt continue to be debated and negotiated.

Why didn’t you say so?

“Why didn’t she say something before?” has been a recurring mantra from those who fail to recognise both the power dynamics and the pain of speaking out. From women facing domestic abuse to those trying to make their mark in the boardroom, sticking a head above the parapet can have damaging personal or professional implications. However, as with cases such as Harvey Weinstein, whose enablers facilitated his continuing harassment of more women, in some cases – especially with issues such as sexual harassment or bullying in the workplace – silence can be a form of complicity. This is not to add guilt to an already complex mix of emotions for those who choose not to speak, it is simply to emphasise the importance of making one’s voice heard. All too often, small acts of appeasement become the norm, building a sense of resentment, a life of wasted talent, or at worst leading to further cases of abuse.

And the challenge of making one’s voice heard is not restricted to dramatic and harrowing stories of sexual abuse, or international uprisings against the tyranny of the patriarchy. I recently confessed in a discussion in the Coffee With Dan Facebook group that keeping the peace instead of having the courage to speak out might be the single biggest factor in holding back my development. This led to some interesting and enlightening exchanges and demonstrated to me just how much this problem resonates with others. Self-censorship is the ultimate in self-defeating activities, a lose-lose situation which deprives both sides of the opportunity to grow.

Behind every successful man…

At the risk of making a huge generalisation that I know will not be the case for everyone, it seems that women have a tendency to hold their tongue way more than men. Terms such as mansplaining and manterrupting have not sprung up in a vacuum, and there is little doubt in my mind that women show a disproportionate reluctance to contribute to conversations and apply for high level jobs. Indeed, a study by Brigham Young University and Princeton showed that men dominate up to 75% of conversations during conference meetings, and at 7%, the number of companies in the FTSE 100 run by women is still depressingly low. (As of last year, there were more men called David in FTSE 100 CEO positions than there were women.)

It’s also fair to say that women are still woefully under-represented in leadership positions in pretty much every sector. Despite whichever wave in the sea of feminism we have reached by this point in the 21st century, women still feel disproportionately responsible for taking on caring and housekeeping duties (even where there are no dependants), and there is still an underlying assumption that women will subjugate their own needs in the service of a man’s ambition. How many movies have you seen where a woman’s sole role appears to be that of waiting at the end of a telephone line and reacting to the latest drama encountered by a dynamic male protagonist (and let’s not even get onto the Bechdel Test).

Having recently attended an arts conference in New York at which leadership, succession and transition were key topics for discussion – and during which, coincidentally, I learned that Josie Rourke, Kate Pakenham and Jude Kelly would all be stepping down from their roles as some of the most powerful and high profile women in the sector – I was driven to consider once again the position of women in leadership, and where the next generation of leaders will come from to fill that vacuum. Excellent programmes like Artistic Directors of the Future and the Clore Leadership Programme will no doubt do what they can to help redress these imbalances, but the pipeline is long, and the arts is renowned for recycling the same old faces.

Making our voices heard

I know January has passed, but it’s still early in the year. The days of the silent treatment are over, and we need to be more vocal for the sake of our friends, our allies and ourselves. Let’s make it our new year’s resolution not to censor ourselves for the sake of keeping the peace or to protect the egos and feelings of others. Whatever your gender, race or background, your voice and your perspective have value and deserve to be heard. Speak up and speak out for what you feel, what you need and what you believe. And if someone doesn’t like it? Well, then don’t waste any more of your breath.

]]>http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/2018/02/06/speaking-up-speaking-out-why-we-shouldnt-hold-our-tongue-to-keep-the-peace/feed/0481What Leadership Transitions Look Likehttp://www.roughinformation.co.uk/2017/10/17/hello-world/
http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/2017/10/17/hello-world/#respondTue, 17 Oct 2017 09:00:47 +0000http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/?p=1When I arrived in Montreal for ISPA’s Anthony Field Academy, I didn’t imagine that a couple of days later I would be announcing to a room of fellow delegates that I planned to quit my job when I got back to London. I certainly didn’t expect that announcement to be greeted by a warm and enthusiastic round of applause. Sure enough, after two days back in the office, I handed in my notice and started my journey as a freelancer.

I have always been drawn to different art forms and ideas, which made working in any one particular role a little frustrating at times. I would often find myself ‘peering over the fence’ at what other departments were up to, and wishing I could get involved. I have a habit of being very easily enthused by other people’s ideas and wanting to find ways to bring them to fruition, so as a natural facilitator, with a wide range of skills and experience, moving into producing seemed the obvious choice.

It has initially been quite a culture shock adapting to working independently after so long as an ‘employee’. Finding myself in the position of developing my own business, defining my own schedule, and setting my own priorities, has been challenging but exciting. I’ve only been working as an independent producer, fundraiser and arts manager for a matter of months, but the transition has happened quickly and I’m already very busy. I’ve conducted cultural policy research for Goldsmiths College, have a couple of fundraising consultancy opportunities on the go, and have just joined promenade theatre specialists Teatro Vivo as a Producer on their new show Twistov, inspired by Dickens’ Oliver Twist and real-life experiences of migration in the UK in the 21st century.

If you’re considering taking the leap, here are my three top tips:

Do your maths – How will you pay the bills while you develop an income stream? Do you have any savings you could dip into? What’s your ‘survival’ budget (the bare minimum you need to pay your way, even if it means putting up with living like a student) and your ‘thrival’ budget (how much you need to live comfortably, eat well, and enjoy a few luxuries).

Invest in yourself – It might seem like a bad time to be spending money on training, but keep learning. The more skilled you are, the more you have to offer potential clients, and the more opportunities you have to pick up varied and interesting work.

Look after yourself – It might take some time to develop your practice. In the meantime, you’re likely to want to say yes to everything, which means you’re going to be very busy. Even learning to adapt to your own timetable and having to make lots of decisions can be quite mentally taxing. Make time to eat well, exercise, rest, and allow yourself the occasional treat. After all, you won’t be able to work at all if you’re ill.

My absolute top tip would be to keep asking for help from those around you. Make the most of your networks – former managers, colleagues, people you meet at networking events and conferences. It’s a rare person who will turn down the offer of coffee and a chat, and my experience has been that the vast majority of people are incredibly generous with their time and advice. This might seem surprising for a sector where people are so often under-resourced and under pressure; but on the other hand, it feels perfectly natural when so much of what we do as artists, producers, and cultural leaders is founded on collaboration and partnership.

Making the decision to become an independent arts professional has been an incredibly positive move for me, and I’m very excited about the future. It’s not necessarily a career path that suits everyone, but I would urge anyone considering it to give it a try if they can. You certainly won’t get bored!

]]>http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/2017/10/17/hello-world/feed/01What a difference a year makes…http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/2017/09/10/what-a-difference-a-year-makes/
http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/2017/09/10/what-a-difference-a-year-makes/#respondSun, 10 Sep 2017 08:30:16 +0000http://www.roughinformation.co.uk/?p=412As I celebrated my birthday last weekend, I was struck by how much has changed for me over the past 12 months. Since this time last year, I have had the immense good fortune to have made countless new friends from all over the world as part of the ISPA Fellowship, I have come through difficult and trying times, and I have become a stronger person – physically and mentally.

I’m not a great one for “things” but there are two items in particular that, for me, symbolise the journey of my arts career so far, and how privileged I am to be surrounded by such amazing and inspiring people. First is my little terracotta soldier, given to me by Emilie Wang when I left the Southbank Centre back in 2013 to take on my first role in Development. He has watched over me from every desk in every role I’ve worked since, and now sits in pride of place on my new desk at home. The other is the scarf that Heena Patel gave to me at the ISPA conference in Montreal this May. For me, this scarf marks the moment when I made a momentous decision to go it alone as a freelancer, and represents the incredible support and encouragement from the extended ISPA family who were so instrumental in giving me the strength to take the leap.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to those who have helped me on my way. Thanks to all you amazing people too numerous to name here, and all those I’ve forgotten or who passed through my life so swiftly that I never even caught their names.

Right now, as I sit writing a biography for my new life as a freelancer, I recognise that I’m very much in listening mode, absorbing inspiration and ideas. If there are any festivals or conferences you think I should attend, any work you think I should see, any organisations you think I should visit, drop me a line. This is the start of a whole new chapter for me, and I want to take it all in!